Filing system and means



Se t. 5, 1933. v. E. ROBINSON 1,925,705

FILING SYSTEM AND MEANS Filed March 27, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VE N TOR liq- Va izfiww 711m,-

2/ A TTORNE YS.

Sept. 5, 1933.

v. E. 'ROBINSON FILING SYSTEM AND MEANS Fil ed March 27, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR idrv mfilmsam Se t. 5, 1933. v. E. ROBINSON FILING SYSTEM AND MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 27, 1928 INVENTOR, 7515i; Z/m/p Taiwan/5 &

GEE?

' ATTORNEYS.

P 1933. v. E. ROBINSON 1,925,705

FILING SYSTEM AND MEANS File d March 27, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR. fir i/m/u Kalimm A TORNE s.

Patented Sept. 1933 w re STATES PATENT oFFlcE 21 Claims.

This inventionv relates broadly to index systems and means therefor, and means therefor, and more particularly to a system which will automaticallyselect and arrange data.

The device may, in one embodiment, contemplate the use of cards bearing certain indicia such as an index member or letter and which cards can be dropped at random into a drawer without any attention being given to the relative position of any card to another and still be accessible instantly by classes, or if desired 'to have only one card in any given class then that one card would be capable of being chosen.

The invention has for an object the provision of a system and means which will rapidly, ac-

' curately and automatically select data desired without'the necessity of an individual search 'ror such data. p

Another object is the provision of a selective 29 system and means adapted to handle a large number of cards or the like and in such a manner that any one of said cards or group thereof may be readily secured withoutthe necessity of fingering through said cards.

In'practicing the invention, I may provide a drawer adapted to be received within a suitable case or housing and which drawer is adapted to contain one or more cards. These cards may be given letters or numbers, which numbers or letters would be for the purpose of identification as to certain data to be contained upon such cards. 1

The case or housing carries a selector'system which may be, operated to select any card within the drawer. In brief, the selector system will include various buttons or other operative means which work in conjunction with certain] elements carried by the cards whereby the selected cards may be lifted or raised from those cards not desired.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a system and means of filing cards, as well as the selecting of said, cards which is simple as to operation, fool-proof and accurate in use, and generally superior.

Another object is the provision of a system of Cir selecting data which selects said data directly.

parts, members and features, all as shown in a tion, association and relative arrangement of certain embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Inthe drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a case or housing and drawer therein, the parts of which housing carry a certain'embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the housing and drawer and showing certain mechanism of the invention,

Figure 3 is a. transverse sectional view of the casing and drawer and selector mechanism, the drawer being in one position,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, the drawer being in a raised position,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an index tab used in practicing the invention,

.Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view showing certain steps in the operation of the invention,

Figures '7 and '8 are fragmentary transverse sectional views illustrating further details of the operation of the invention,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional plan view showing the selector mechanism,

Figure 10 is a longitudinal vertical-sectional View of the selector mechanism on an enlarged scale from the showing of Figure2,

Figure 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the line l111'of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view of one of the selector mechanism members, and

Figure l3is a perspective view of the members shown in Figure 12, the same being spread apart to show features of construction.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring now with particularity to the drawingsythe improved device is designated as an entirety by A, and the same includes a suitable case, or housing a adapted to hold a drawer b. Selector mechanism designated generally as c is carried by the case or housing a and said selector mechanism includes selector bars (1, selector bar control means 6, and means f for actuating the selector bar control means and for locking said control means in a given position. Means g is adapted to be carried by one or more cards or the like it and the means g is adapted to cooperate with the selector barsd in the selecting of one or more cards h. All of the elements just enumerated are utilized in practicing one embodiment of the invention A. e Any type of drawer b may be utilized and in no fact an ordinary type of'filing box might be used,

although it is evident that said box would have to cooperate with the selector means 0. The selector means 0 will first be described in detail, followed by a description of the mechanism or device with which said selector means cooperates in performing a selecting operation. The case or housing may be provided upon its fronting portion with a plate 1 from which project selector buttons 2. These selector buttons are arranged in pairs, as shown at 3 and 4, and may bear certain indicia such as shown in certain of the figures. In the present instance, the selector buttons would be numbered, each pair as 3 and 4 bearing like indicia, as 1-1, 22, etc. (see Figure l). These selector buttons are mounted upon stems 5 which stems carry at their inner ends catches 6. Each catch is provided with a beveled nose 7, The catch is likewise provided with a cut-out portion 8. It will be noted that the plate 1 is bent so as to provide a casing. designated generally as 9 for carrying the stems 5, the casing to this end being bored with the stems passed therethrough. Likewise a coil spring. 11 is provided for each stem and which coil spring normally urges the stem in an outward direction, that is, outward from the plate 1. In this regard, it will be noted that the coil spring is confined at one end by a wall 12 of the casing 9 and by a member 13 secured to the stern. Adapted to transversely extend between the sides of the case or housing and hinged thereto is alatch l4 constituting a part of the means 1. This latch may comprise a plate provided with a depending flange 15 and which plate is pivoted or otherwise hinged to the said casing. The flange 15 is adapted to be received in the cut-out portion 8 of any one of the catches 6 when the stem is pushed a certain distance inwardly, as shown in Figure 2. Enclosed within a portion'of the casplates 20 and 21 which are spaced apart.

plate 21 is provided with an elongated channel portion 22 formed by striking the metal outwardly, and with a portion 23 connecting with the channel 22 and substantially at right-angles thereto. This part 23 is formed with asloping or inclined wall 24 communicating with the bottom of the channel. The side 20 is provided with channels 25, 26, 27 and 28, which are formed by stamping the metal. The channel 26 runs substantially longitudinally of the plate 20 and the 7 channel 25 is at right angles thereto and provided with an inclined wall 29. The channel 2'? curves upwardly from the channel26 to where it meets the channel 28 and the channel 28 is provided with a sloping wall 30. It will he noted that the channel 28 and the channel 26 are sub stantially parallel. When the plates 20 and 21 are folded so as to be substantially parallel and spaced apart, the general appearance of the means 6 will be as that shown in Figures 11 and 12. The split ends 31 and 32 of the plates may be secured together in any approved manner. It will be observed at this time that the rear of the casing or housing carries a casing 33, the same comprising two spaced-apart substantially parallel plates 34 and 35, which are secured to the housing in any approved manner, such as shown at 36 and between which plates are means e identical in construction with the means carried between the plates 16 and 17. We, therefore, have means 6 for both the front and rear portion of the casing, and each pair of means, such as 37 and 38 (see Figure 9) would be so mounted as to correspond to the members 18 and 19; in other words, in the same angular relation.

Adapted to be confined as between members 20 and 21 are pins 39 and which pins are flattened at one end 40 for the purpose of securing said ends to the selector bars d. The pins 39 are formed with transverse bores 41 through which bores are passed slide dogs l2. The forward means e is so arranged that the pin 39 therefor is movably held at its upper end within a memberv 13 carried by a stern 5. The lower end of said pin 39 is connected to the bar d. The arrange ment is such that the two members e, both front and rear, which are in parallelism, have pins passed therethrough which connect with the same bar d. The bars (1 are identically formed and are right-angular in cross-section, as shown at M. In this particular, each group of said bars, which would comprise two thereof, are so arranged that the lower portions, which may be termed flanges 45, face each other.

The cards h carry means g, as shown in Figure 5. v The means 9 includes a base portion 46 provided with a part 4'7 bent at an angle to the base portion and with a shank or stem 48 which terminates in an arrow-shaped head 49, in that the head has parts extending outwardly from the sides of the stem or shank, as shown at 50 and 51. The cards at various positions, depending upon the index number selected, would be slotted near the top edge thereof and the member 47 passed through said slot, then bent so as to engage a surface of the card, the card being confined be tween the parts 46 and 4'7. The appearance of the card would be similar to that shown in Figures 3 and 4E.

The case or housing is provided with means 7' for raising the drawer relative to the base of said housing. This means in the present instance, comprises an elongated lever arm 52 terminating in a crank-handle portion 53 and whichlever arm consists of a plate which is adapted to be rotated against a flat plate 54 carried on the bottom surface of the drawer b. Thus upon rotating the handle 53 so as to swing the lever arm from the position of Figure 3 to that of Figure 4, the drawer will be lifted upwardly,as shown.

As is customary, a follower block 55 may be within the drawer and movable to selected positions through the medium of the screw-shaft 56 operated by handle 56 The operation, uses, and advantages of the invention are as follows:

In the normal position, the selector buttons 2 would all extend outwardly the same distance from the front of the case, as shown in Figure 1, and these buttons are arranged in pairs with suitable indicia appearing upon the surface 1 thereof. In the present instance, the buttons are numbered as shown in Figure both buttons of each pair being given like numbers. The particular system of indicia shown on the buttons in the drawings is arbitrary, as any other indicia would be equally satisfactory, depending upon use of the invention. It is supposed that the drawer has been filled with cards and that the cards are numbered, as shown at 60, and likewise certain thereof given an index letter 61. If I l to only one or two uses will be designated.

would engage the next ascending ledge and upon again pressing the first button, the following ledge would be engaged, thusv the card selected. t will be noted that in all probability when the first and also the second buttons No. l are pressed in this illustration, that the bars d will probably contact with the tabs of cards other than cards representing class No. 111, but that such other cards will be suspended at least one space lower than cards whose number is 111 and, therefore, when the last of the three separate pressures of the No. 1 buttons takes place, the bars at will contact with the cards numbered 111 only.

The construction of the means e is quite important. If a selector button or buttons are pushed inwardly, they are immediately engaged by the member 1a to hold said selector buttons in such inward position. The dogs 42 will. slide along the grooves 22 of the means e and during this sliding movement, the bar d will maintain a cer tain relative height. However, when the dogs 42 reach the grooves 23, the bars will drop from the first position to a lower position, as shown in Figure 10, it being noted that one of the bars is higher than the other bar, the selector button of the highest bar being in an outward position while the selector button that is pushed inwardly and held by the latch has its bar in a lowered position. This movement allows the cards that have their means g in contact with the bar to drop with the result that when the other selector button of a pair is pushed inwardly, the bars will be ready to engage the next head or tab to be selected. In other words, the means e is so constructed that the head of the next lower means 9 on the cards is ready to be engaged upon movement of a selector button.

After a given card or cards have been selected, the follower block is tightened against the cards, the bars d are then released by normalizing the .selector buttons by raising the latch 14 by pressing one of the selector buttons partly inwardly whereupon the drawer may be pulled outward from its casing or housing and the selected cards will extend above the top edges of the non-selected cards.

The uses of the invention are so numerous that In the shoe business, such a device and system would be particularly useful as cards might be provided which would list shoes of a certain size, number, color, and location in a store. If a custorner should then call for shoes and the size was double A, '7, light tan, the salesman would press certain of the buttons of the selector system and all cards which would list any said shoes would be immediately selected and the salesman could ascertain by a reading of said cards how many of the shoes of the character desired were in stock and their exact location. If a sale was made from a certain pair of shoes, as listed on certain of the cards, the card or cards could then be sent into the main office and checked off so that a re-order could be sent in or some notation made, after which it would be again filed. This system would likewise be useful in finding broken lines of shoes for the purpose of sales. For instance, a record of the customers might be kept, it being noted on the cards that a certain customer wears a certain size shoe. Regardless of the number of customers, upon pressing the proper buttons having a key or index number, all cards giving the names of customers wearing a certain size shoe would be produced.

Another use of this invention would be in the classification of patents. A given classification system would be used which would take the place of the index A shown in Figures 3 and 4, the sub-classes would be given their numbers, and under the sub-classes the different forms of mechanical invention could be listed. Thus,if an application was to be examined for a certain type of pump and if it was desired to find out what had been done by other patentees, it would only be necessary to select the patents of the classification, to group the same and select cards which would indicate the patent references relating to this particular subject matter. In this manner it would be unnecessary for an examiner or patent attorney to attempt to familiarize himself with the different inventions of a, given art as a proper selection is a mere mechanical operation. Such a system is also usefulin-law offices for the classification of clients relative to inventions; for instance, the different classes of inventions, pumps, engines, etc., could be selected and given an index number. Upon pressing the buttons for say, motors, the cards bearing the names of all inventors that had ever' invented motors would be produced.

In banks, such a device would be particularly useful, or in fact any place where accounts are kept.

A true cross index is possible with this system since it is evident that the cards can be grouped or filed in visual classes, each group before or behind an ordinary index card, a visual tab indicating that group. My device will choose from any number of groups or classifications one group or class, the individual cards of which might be scattered through the visual classes. In other words, a true cross index is possible whereby each visual class is actually divided mechanically into many classes. For instance, cities of the United States would be separately placed upon cards, which cards would be placed behind a visual tab bearing the name of the State in which the city is located. By this system and with which device, each of the States visually tabbed could be mechanically divided into ten classes based on population and each of these 10 classes could be mechanically divided into ten classes more or less, based upon any data, such as wealth per capita, and in turn these ten classes could, by this device, be divided into a number of other classes based on the amount of bonded indebtedness of each city, etc. So far as the inventor is aware, this is the only device capable of a true crossing of such a large number of classes in the same cabinet at the same time and with one set of cards where on class is composed of cards belonging and filed at the same time under one or more classes based upon some other viewpoint or consideration.

The inventor is aware that there is a certain system on the market of classifying cards but every card must be touched or moved by a machine prior to the selection of a given card and this renders the operation slow, whereas with this device only the card or cards desired are selected without disturbing the other cards, but probably ,2. A card-selecting mechanism this system, the same cards may be classified and "selected mechanically, although thoroughly crossed and intermingled; and with" each of the many mechanically selected classes :quickly accessible although the individual cards composing same come from and are intermingled with any or all, of the visual classes.

my invention, what I claim desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

p 1. Ina system of thecharacterdisclosed, a pair of selector buttons, a pair of selector bars, means to cause approach or separation of said barsupon movement of said selector buttons, and means for locking said selector buttons'when said bars are in the position of closest approach.

including a drawer, a case therefor, means for'raising and lowering said drawer within said case,-and selector means carriedby said case and adapted to; engagement with cards Within said drawer when the drawer. ris raisedto select certain thereof when the drawer is lowered.

3. A card-selecting mechanism including a drawer, cards therein; tabs carried by all of said cards and extending to difierent heights beyond an edge thereof, a case for said drawer, and se lector means carried by the case adapted to engage tabs of different heights for the purpose of segregating selected cards from unselected cards.

l. A card-selecting mechanism including a card, and tabs extending from said card, said tabs on said card each extending to a different distance beyond an edge of said card.

5. A card-selecting mechanism including a file adapted to hold a plurality of cards, a series of index notations on certain of said cards, arranged parallel to one edge, tabs extending from an edge of the cards opposite different ones of said index notations, and selector bars, and means to cause approach of said bars to engage selected tabs representing certain index notations.

6. A card-selecting.mechanism including a selector button, a selector bar, means whereby said bar is moved both substantially horizontally and vertically upon movement or" the selector button, and means for locking the bar immediately fol the bars against further movement immediately following their vertical movement. I

8. In a cardselecting mechanism, a pair of selector buttons, a pair of parallel selector bars, means whereby a selector bar is actuated to move both horizontally and vertically relative to the other bar or" said pair when one of said buttons is moved, and means for locking the bar so moved after its vertical movement, said bar being released from said locking means when the other selector button and bar of said pair is actuated.

9. A card-selecting mechanism including selector buttons arranged in pairs, pairs of selector bars, means for transmitting movement from each button to a bar, and cam means for each bar whereby upon movement of a bar said bar is caused to approach to a position midway between the normal'positions of the bars.

10. A card-selecting mechanism including a file box adapted to hold a plurality of cards, a series of index notationson certaincf said cards arranged parallel to oneedge, tabs'extending from said edge'of the "cards opposite difierent ones-of said index notations and selectively placed vertically relative, to said card to indicate different orders of: classification to which saidrotations severally apply, selector bars, and

-means to cause approach of certain of said bars to engage selected tabs representing certain digits;

- "11. A card-selecting mechanism including a file box adapted to hold a plurality of cards, a

series of index notations on certain of said cards arranged parallel to one edge, tabs extending from said edge of the cards opposite different ones of said index notations and selectively placedvertically relative to' said card to indicate different orders of classification to which said notations severally apply, selector bars, and means to cause approach of certain of said bars to engage selected tabs representing certain digits, said tabs varying in length whereby when another selector bar is moved, the next'longer tab ofa selected digit is engaged, the unwanted decimalplaces of the digit already selected being released.

12. A card-selecting mechanism including a case adapted to hold a plurality of cards, selector bars, means to cause approach and separation of said bars, tabs carried by all of said cards in predetermined positions, said tabs being adapted to be engaged in accordance with movement of certain of said selector bars to sus 'pend the cards carrying said tabs opposite the same, all other cards moving away from said suspended cards.

13. A card-selecting mechanism including a plurality of cards, a series of index notations on certain of said cards arranged parallel to one edge, tabs extending from said edge of said cards 14. A card-selecting mechanism including a certain of said cards arranged parallel to one edge, tabs extending from said edge of said cards opposite different ones of said index notations and to different heights, to indicate decimal places of said index notations, selector bars, and means to cause approach of said bars to indieats a selected tab of a given decimal place and to suspend the cards bearing said tab, all other cards separating therefrom, further movement of other'selector bars engaging further tabs of the suspended cards of different decimal places to hold said cards suspended and reject all unwanted cardsfrom the preselected group.

15. A card-selecting mechanism including selector buttonsarranged in pairs, selector bars, and cam means between the selector buttons and selector bars for causing approach or separation of said bars upon simultaneous movement of said selector buttons, said separation occur-v ring after the bars have reached the limit of their approach. 7

16. A card-selecting mechanism including selector bars for causing approach or separation of said bars upon simultaneous movement of said selector buttons in opposite directions, and latch means for holding said selector buttons, said separation taking place after the bars have reached the limit of their approach.

17. In a card-selecting mechanism, a pair of selector buttons, a pair of substantially parallel selector bars, means whereby a selector bar is actuated to move both horizontally and vertically relative to the other bar or" said pair when one of said buttons is moved, and means for locking the bar so moved after its vertical movement; said locking means adapted to be released from said bar when the other selector bar of said pair is actuated, and said first-named means being formed to permit a lag in the movement of the first bar of said pair during its restoration to initial position.

18. A card-selecting mechanism including a case, a drawer therefor, means for raising said cards, selector means carried by said case and adapted for engagement with cards within said drawer when the cards are raised to select and move out of normal alignment certain thereof.

19. A card-selecting mechanism including a case, a drawer therefor, means for raising said cards, selector means carried by said case and adaptedlfor engagement with cards within said drawer when the cards are raised to select and. move out of normal alignment certain thereof, and means adapted to maintain the selected cards out of alignment with the unselected cards.

20. A card-selecting mechanism including a drawer, cards therein, tabs carried by all of said cards and extending to difierent heights beyond an edge thereof, a case for said drawer, means for raising said cards, selector means carried by the case and adapted to engage tabs of a given height on said cards after the cards are raised for the purpose of selecting and moving out of normal alignment certain thereof, and means adapted to maintain the selected cards out of alignment with the unselected cards when said selector means is inoperative.

21. In a card-selecting mechanism, a pair of selector buttons, a pair of parallel selector bars, and means whereby a selector bar is actuated from an initial position to move both horizontally and vertically relative to the other bar of said pair when one of said buttons is moved, and to again move to its initial position when-the other selector button and associated selector bar is actuated.

VIRGIL EDWIN ROBINSON. 

